Saskatchewan JobFutures

Nature of Work

Officers, researchers and consultants in this field of work conduct research, develop policies and administer programs to promote industrial and commercial business investment or tourism in urban and rural areas. They also promote commercial or industrial products and services. They are employed by government agencies, marketing firms and business associations or may be self-employed.

Nature of Work

Officers, researchers and consultants in this field of work conduct research, develop policies and administer programs to promote industrial and commercial business investment or tourism in urban and rural areas. They also promote commercial or industrial products and services. They are employed by government agencies, marketing firms and business associations or may be self-employed.

Duties

The specific duties of one worker in this field may vary considerably from those of another. However, most economic development officers and marketing researchers and consultants develop policies and administer programs to promote industrial and commercial business investment. Their work duties include conducting social or economic surveys on local, regional or national areas to assess development potential and future trends; responding to enquiries from members of the business community concerning development opportunities; and conducting surveys and analysing data on the buying habits and preferences of wholesale or retail consumers.

Economic development officers and marketing researchers and consultants are also responsible for planning development projects with representatives of a wide variety of industrial and commercial enterprises, business associations and government agencies. They also conduct comparative research on marketing strategies for industrial and commercial products and review commercial or industrial development proposals. Most workers in this field frequently provide advice on procedures and requirements for government approval.

Some economic development officers and marketing researchers and consultants develop social and economic profiles of urban and rural areas to encourage industrial and commercial investment.

Example Titles

• marketing analyst
• regional development analyst
• market researcher
• marketing consultant
• business development officer
• economic development officer
• industrial development officer
• tourism development officer
• tourism industry consultant

Training Paths

Both U of R and U of S offer specialized Bachelor's degree programs in Marketing; U of R through the Faculty of Business Administration and U of S through the College of Commerce. U of R also offers a Master's degree in Government or Public Sector Policy. U of S students can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration. In addition, U of S and FNUniv jointly offer an associate certificate program in Indigenous Business Administration. Students who meet the transfer average requirements have the option of continuing as undergraduate students in the College of Commerce and earning a Bachelor of Commerce degree. SIAST offers a diploma program in Business Marketing. Co-op work terms are available in the U of R, U of S and SIAST administration programs and in the U of R Arts program.

Trends and Outlooks

The employment prospects for this occupation are: good

Employment for economic development officers and marketing researchers and consultants jumped in Saskatchewan between 2001 and 2006; by an incredible 55%, according to Statistics Canada. This amounted to 350 new jobs over a five year period. leveled off between 1995 and 2000. This rapid growth is unlikely to continue. The economic climate has changed, and employment demand has dropped for many of the workers classified here. At the same time, this remains a large occupational group, and some turnover is inevitable. Retirement will create some openings, although it should be noted that nearly 70% of all economic development officers and marketing researchers and consultants in Saskatchewan were younger than 45 years of age in 2006. Other forms of attrition will likely generate more job openings in the near future. Most of these will come in the public administration; information, culture and recreation; and professional, scientific and technical services industries.

The average full-time income for economic development officers and marketing researchers and consultants in the province increased slightly from $44,500 in 2000 to $53,300 in 2005. Of course, many in this field earned considerably more (or less) than the average in 2005. Full-time economic development officers, marketing researchers and consultants earned as much as $91,300 that year, while some self-employed workers earned considerably more. Annual incomes in this field tend to be lower outside Regina and Saskatoon.

In 2005, just under 70% of all economic development officers and marketing researchers and consultants were employed on a full-time basis. Indeed, the incidence of part-time work in these occupations has increased steadily since the mid-nineties. Self-employment is rare in this field, and employment is neither seasonal nor sensitive to overall economic conditions. The proportion of males employed in these occupations has dropped steadily since the early nineties to the point where there is now an almost equal balance of men and women in this work force. In 2006, 54% of all economic development officers and marketing researchers and consultants in Saskatchewan were women.

Free trade and the increased use of information technology in the market place are likely to increase opportunities for economic development officers and marketing researchers and consultants. However, other factors may adversely affect employment in this field. Coupled with restraint in government spending, restructuring in the financial sector may decrease the number of job openings in the years ahead.

Professional Associations

Related Occupations

• Economists and Economic Policy Researchers and Analysts (4162)
• Financial and Investment Analysts (1112)
• Other Financial Officers (1114)
• Urban and Land Use Planners (2153)
• Economic development managers (in 0412 Government Managers in Economic Analysis, Policy Development and Program Administration)
• International development or aid officers (in 4164 Social Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers)
• Marketing managers (in 0611 Sales, Marketing and Advertising Managers)